Ed Asner Returns To Stratford For 'Conversation,' Visit To AST

Television, film and stage actor Ed Asner (TV's "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") will talk about his life and career in "A Conversation with Ed Asner" on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Theatre (formerly the Stratford Movie Theater), 2422 Main St. in Stratford.

The seven Emmy award-winner will launch a series of American Shakespeare Theatre Alumni Talks which will benefit the Stratford Arts Commission and the Stratford Center for the Arts at the American Shakespeare Theatre.

Joe Meyers, arts and entertainment feature writer for The Connecticut Post and Hearst Media Newsa Group will conduct the onstage interview and q and a.

Asner comes to Stratford immediately following the close of Broadway's "Grace," which he co-stars with Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon.

Asner received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and was inducted into the Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.

In 2009, he voiced the character of the Old Man in Pixar's "Up." In 2003, he played Santa Claus in the film "Elf."

Asner appeared at the American Shakesperare Theatre early in his career beginning in 1959 in "The Merry Wives of Windsor, "Romeo and Juliet" and "All's Well That Ends Well."

Nancy Marchand who would later co-star with Asner in the TV series, "Lou Grant" was at the theater in 1958.

Among the actors for Asner's season were: Barbara Barrie, Morris Carnovsky, Richard Easton, Will Geer, Mariette Hartley, Hiram Sherman, Inga Swenson, Sada Thompson, and as an academy student, David Marguluies

Directing that season was John Houseman, with choreography by George Balanchine, sets by David Hays, lighting by Tharon Musser and Jean Rosenthal.

Tickets are $25 general seating; $50 VIP seating;.

Tickets may be reserved at 203-572-8177 or may be purchased at the Devan News & Variety in Stratford Center and Hann's Kitchen in Paradise Green in Stratford.